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This thesis explores three of Nietzsche in terms of his
conception of nihilism and his attempt to overcome it.
It is argued that Nietzsche views modernity as being
characterized by nihilism and in a state of crisis. Nietzsche
responds to this crisis by offering both an aetiology of it, and
a vision of a future beyond nihilism. It is Nietzsche's vision
which is the primary concern of this work.
Nietzsche's first attempt to overcome nihilism is found in Thus
Spoke Zarathustra. In this book Nietzsche offers a solution of
individual salvation which is elucidated in terms of a trio of
ideas - the Superman, the will to power and eternal recurrence.
Since nihilism is a social problem, however, this individual
overcoming of it is insufficient. In Beyond Good arid Evil
Nietzsche, realizing this, offers a more inclusive solution which
centres on a political vision of an aristocracy which lies
beyond, and outside of, social morality.
In On the Genealogy of Morals Nietzsche attempts to show that the
creation of such a future does not involve any ahistorical leaps,
that the potential for it is already present, though repressed,
in Western culture.
In sUbjecting Nietzsche' s vision of the future to critical
evaluation it is argued that his visions of individual and
society are both unattractive and unfeasible. The Nietzschean
individual is argued to be less a model of psychological health
and well-being than a case study in alienation. The aristocratic
society which Nietzsche envisages seems sure to lead to a new
crisis.
It is further argued that this lack of a workable and attractive vision of the future is based in a misinterpretation of the
present, which, I suggest, is not characterized by a crisis.